Best Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers, Main Dishes, Sides and Desserts (2024)

Are you working on your plant based thanksgiving menu? I’ve collected the BEST recipes for Thanksgiving. You’ll find appetizers, main dishes, sides and desserts. Pick and choose your favorites and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Best Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers, Main Dishes, Sides and Desserts (1)

I guarantee if you use any of these recipes you will impress all your non-vegan guests! In fact, I’m sure they will be surprised to learn these recipes are vegan. They really are THAT good, and they are all tried and true tasty recipes.

You can print the recipes you want to make so you have them all in one place and ready to go, or save them to a Pinterest board for easy organization!

Whatever recipes you choose, I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving! And don’t miss my tips for a smooth Thanksgiving day below the recipes.

You can click on the text link below the photo, or simply click on the photo and it will take you to the recipe.

Appetizers

This festive Vegan Cranberry Pecan Cheese Ball is so easy to make and is the perfect holiday appetizer! Bonus: Can be made ahead of time!Only 4 ingredients.

This is . Only 9 ingredients and 30 minutes are needed to make this delicious, crowd-pleasing hot dip.

This creamy and flavorful Vegan Cheese Ball with a nutty exterior won’t last long at a party!

Creamy, cheesy, flavor packed Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip with a secret ingredient! Made with all whole plant food ingredients.

Vegan Butternut Squash Soup is so easy and quick to make! Ready in less than 30 minutes.

With just 7 simple ingredients, you can have oh-so-creamy hummus in 5 minutes!

Main Dishes

This Vegan Turkey Roast afuss-freerecipe andcan be made ahead of time. Every bite is full of flavor and meaty texture!

The Best Vegan Meatloaf – hold the ketchup topping and use easy vegan gravy instead, if desired.

No one will miss the meat in this savory, mouthwatering Vegan Lentil Loaf. It is savory, hearty and comforting.

The ultimate comfort food: Vegan Shepherd’s Pie with vegan ground beef. It’s meaty, hearty and a simple cozy meal the whole family will love!

Vegan Pot Pie is ready in about an hour, and makes a delicious main dish for any holiday.

Biscuit Topped Chickpea Pot Pie features a vegan cheddar biscuit topping and is full of vegetables and chickpeas.

These Vegan Stuffed Jumbo Shells are filled with the most amazing spinach ricotta, covered with marinara sauce and baked to perfection!

Layered with a tofu-cashew ricotta, red lentil marinara and loads of fresh spinach, this vegan lasagna is protein packed with 26 grams per serving.

Vegan Baked Ziti is made with cooked ziti noodles, marinara sauce, cashew cheese and optional vegan “meat”.

My one-pot vegan Mushroom Bourguignon served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes is the ultimate comfort food.

Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Almond Ricotta – A cheesy, creamy, delightful fall dinner, and it’s completely vegan!

Sides

Learn how to make the best dang vegan mashed potatoes that come out perfectly every time! Super simple to make with 4 ingredients.

Vegan Dinner Rolls are buttery, soft, fluffy and completely irresistible.

Vegan Tater Tot Casserole will quickly become a family favorite! Topped with vegan cheese and crispy golden brown tots, it’s an incredibly delicious one-pan holiday side dish.

The Best Vegan Stuffing with golden, crispy edges, soft but not mushy, buttery and full of herbs.

Vegan Cornbread is so easy to make in one bowl and is perfectly sweet and moist.

The Best Vegan Mac and Cheese is irresistibly cheesy and creamy without a hint of dairy!

This Vegan Cornbread Stuffing is flavorful and moist with a crisp top.

My favorite potatoes ever! Vegan Scalloped Potatoes – ultra creamy, cheesy, garlicky and comforting.

Sweet Potato Casserole – the crunchy butter pecan topping is to die for, and no one would guess it’s vegan.

Green Bean Casserole features fresh green beans, a creamy mushroom sauce and plenty of crispy fried onions.

This Festive Kale Salad features a fresh lemony dressing, dried cranberries and delicious pecan parmesan.

Made with just 6 ingredients, this 5 minute vegan gravy is ridiculously easy to make. Your mashed potatoes are begging for it!

Learn how to make the best roasted brussels sprouts that are perfectly crisp but still tender and not dried out!

Desserts

The only recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Pie you’ll ever need, and it’s perfect for the holidays! SO easy to make with only 9 ingredients.

This is the most amazing vegan pecan pie! Sugary, rich and almost caramelly, no one would ever guess it’s dairy and egg free.

Mini Pumpkin Piesare almost too cute to eat and wayeasier to makethan the full sized version!

Vegan Sweet Potato Pie is creamy and rich, and will be the star of your Thanksgiving dessert table!

Vegan Pumpkin Roll – fluffy and moist pumpkin cake is covered in a cream cheese-like frosting, then rolled up, chilled and sliced.

Truly easy to make, this creamy and lightly spiced vegan pumpkin cheesecake is a real crowd-pleaser for the holiday season.

Double Layer Vegan Pumpkin Cheesecake features a delicious gingersnap crust and two layers of cheesecake!

Vegan Pumpkin Cake Bars are made of fluffy, moist pumpkin sheet cake and topped with a “cream cheese” icing. A Fall tradition!

1 Bowl Vegan Apple Cake with Caramel is full of fresh diced apples with an optional caramel drizzle.

Fluffy, moist and easy to make vegan pumpkin cupcakes are topped with the most amazing maple pecan frosting!

Perfect Vegan Apple Pie! With a flaky, buttery pie crust and tender, cinnamon sweet apple filling, this is the only apple pie recipe you need.

Vegan Apple Crisp is packed with perfectly sweetened and tender apples, topped with a buttery, crispy oat mixture and best served with a scoop of dairy free vanilla ice cream.

Tips for a Smooth Vegan Thanksgiving

  • Make what you can the day before. All of the appetizers can be made a day in advance, as well as the desserts. Depending on what main dish and sides you choose, some of the ingredients can be prepped the day before (such as cooking the lentils for the lasagna, chopping vegetables, make any salad dressings, make the pie crusts for pot pie, etc).
  • Cook items that are best served straight from the oven last. This includes the Sweet Potato Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, and Vegan Gravy. Luckily the sweet potato casserole and green bean casserole cook at the same temperature, so that makes things easier.
  • Make the main dish earlier in the day and re-warm near meal time. The Vegan Meatloaf, Vegan Turkey Roast, Lentil Loaf, Pot Pies, Lasagna and Stuffed Shells all can be made earlier in the day and then re-warmed before the big meal.
  • If you have an Instant Pot, use it to make the mashed potatoes. I love how it keeps them nice and warm until dinner time!

Happy Holidays! xoxo Nora

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure here.

About Nora

Read more about Nora

Posted In: Helpful Guides, Holiday, Thanksgiving

you may also like:

Breakfast

Vegan Bacon

Fall

40 Warm and Cozy Vegan Fall Recipes

Dessert

Vegan Condensed Milk

Sauces & Dressings

Heavy Cream Substitute (Vegan)

Best Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers, Main Dishes, Sides and Desserts (2024)

FAQs

What can I serve on Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

  • Pernil. Von Diaz, Maricel Presilla. 3 to 4 hours, plus marinating.
  • Ombré Gratin. Alexa Weibel. 3 hours.
  • Root Beer Ham. Eric Kim. 3 1/2 hours.
  • Lasagna. Regina Schrambling. 4 hours.
  • Easy. Maple-Baked Salmon. ...
  • Easy. Prime Rib Roast. ...
  • Liberian Chicken Gravy. Priya Krishna, Thalmus Hare. ...
  • Braised Goat Leg in Obe Ata. Yewande Komolafe.

Should you have appetizers for Thanksgiving? ›

Don't let your Thanksgiving appetizers be an afterthought. Choose any one of these recipes and co*cktail hour will be the most delicious part of the whole meal. Thanksgiving appetizers are one of the few parts of the feast where few rules apply.

What do vegans eat on Thanksgiving instead of turkey? ›

Vegan Turkey Substitutes
  • Burmese Tofu (aka Chickpea Flour Tofu) ...
  • Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Turmeric-Tahini Sauce & Pistachios. ...
  • Vegan Lentil Shepherd's Pie With Parsnip & Potato Mash. ...
  • Vegetarian Mapo Tofu. ...
  • Sweet Potato & Chickpea Cakes. ...
  • Vegan Lasagna With Roasted Vegetables. ...
  • Zucchini Verde Enchiladas. ...
  • Nutty Veggie Burgers.

How do you make Thanksgiving special without family? ›

You can continue the day by hosting a Friendsgiving dinner or movie night with your pals who are still in town. When it comes to food, you can cook a mini turkey for one or ditch Thanksgiving dinner altogether and order take-out at a local restaurant.

How many appetizers should I have for Thanksgiving? ›

Three or four bites of food per person should be plenty. For shrimp co*cktail, oysters or larger crostini, plan about two pieces per person. If you're serving smaller, one-bite hors d'oeuvres, allot three per person total.

What do you serve before Thanksgiving dinner? ›

20 Light Thanksgiving Appetizers To Munch On Before The Main...
  • 01 of 21. Sweet Potato Hummus. ...
  • 02 of 21. Tarragon and Spice Deviled Eggs. ...
  • 03 of 21. Roasted Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Crostini. ...
  • 04 of 21. Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Prosciutto Poppers. ...
  • 05 of 21. Sweet, Salty, Spicy Party Nuts. ...
  • 06 of 21. ...
  • 07 of 21. ...
  • 08 of 21.
Nov 2, 2023

What is an alternative bird to turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

As for cooking methods, duck, pheasant and goose can roast in the oven just like you would a turkey. The fattier duck and geese should be slow-roasted so the fat renders and you get a crispy skin. A quick reminder: Just like all poultry, make sure your bird reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F.

What is healthier than turkey for Thanksgiving? ›

Tofu: Interested in going meatless as a possible new year's resolution? Try it out on Thanksgiving by substituting tofu for your turkey. Tofu can be cooked in a variety of flavorful ways and comes with a ton of nutritional benefits including a lot of calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B, and protein.

What else is good for Thanksgiving dinner? ›

Thanksgiving With a Twist
  • Bacon-Wrapped Turkey.
  • Turkey and Cranberry Flatbread.
  • Fried Mac and Cheese Balls.
  • Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms.
  • Pumpkin Lasagna Roll-Ups.
  • Cauliflower Gratin.
  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole.
  • Pumpkin Snickerdoodles.
Nov 1, 2023

Do you have to have turkey on Thanksgiving? ›

It doesn't always have to be turkey

Nothing in the world says you have to present this bird each year. Try something new and make your own tradition.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 5961

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.